Screw driver



April 10, 1928. 1,665,240

w. D. WEAVER SCREW DRI VER Filed Dec. 23. 1926 Inventor Patented Apr. 10, 1928.-

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SCREW DRIVER.

Application filed December .The present invention relates to tools and more particularly to screw drivers and has for'its prime object to provide a tool shank associated with a handle so that said shank and when in such position is prevented from rotation in respect to the handle or may be placed at right angles to the handle and when in this position is free to rotate in one In direction through an improved ratchet mech amsm.

Another very important object of the invention lies in the provision of a tool of this nature which will have all the advantages l6 of an ordinary screw driver and an ordinary ratchet screw driver and one in which the shank of the tool may be disposed angularly to the handle so that the same may be used in close quarters and under other cir- 2o cumstances where the ordinary screw driver could not be used to advantage.

A still further very important objectof the invention lies in the provision of a tool of this nature which is comparatively simple 25 in its construction, exceedingly eas to manipulate and adjust, one which is t orough- 1y eflicient and reliable in operation and use and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed. With the above 30 and numerous other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construct-ion, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing: I

Fi re 1 is an elevation of a tool embodying the features of my invention,

Fig. 2 is an other elevation thereof at right angles'to that shown in Figure 1,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the shank of the tool at right angles to the handle,

Fi 4.- is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 4.4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a detail view taken su stantially on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the numeral 5 denotes a handle which has a detachable section 6 of tubular formation with outwardly diverging wings or extensions 7 fixed to the handle 5 by suitable fastening elements 8. From the other end of the tubular member 6 there extends a pair of spaced parallel arms 9,.

The numeral 10 denotes a shank which,

as, 1926. Serial 1%. ,034.

in the present instance, has a screw driver blade 11 at one end thereof while the other end is enlarged to form a head H of subsan-- tial cylindrical formation having longitu- 5 may be placed in an extension of the handle\ dinally extending peripheral grooves 12 forming teeth and an annular and centrally formed groove 14 in which is rotatable a frame 15. mounted between the extremities of the arms 9 by rivets 16 or other suitable means. The extremity of the head 8 has a tongue 17 extending therefrom. A plunger 18 is slidable on'the tubular member 6 and is pressed outwardly therefrom by a spring 19. The outer end of the plunger is formed with a head 20 having a ratchet tooth 21 extending diametrically across the This frame 15 is rotatably end face thereof and formed with a diametrically extending groove disposed at right angles to the ratchettooth 21.

When the screw driver blade is to be usedscrew-driver with the shank at right angles to the handle, the operator grasps the head20 between the fingers and presser the plunger 18 inwardly thereby compressing the spring 19 and then moves the shank 10 to a right angular position in either direction depending upon whether the screw is to be tightened or loosened as will be quite apparent. Supposing that the screw is to be tightened it will be seen that the shank is to be moved to the position indicated in Figs. 3 and 5- which causes the frame 15 to move from the plane shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the plane shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The head 20 will then engage with the piece on the head 8 and the ratchet tooth 21 will allow the screw driver blade to be rotated in a clockwise direction but when the handle is swung in a counter-clockwise direction, the'ratchet tooth will slip over the head as will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 5. Obvlously,

if the shank is disposed in the other direchandy, eas to manipulate, and thoroughly eflicient an reliable. The structure is slmple, stron and durable, and capable of being manu actured at a reasonably low cost.

The edge of the head 20 is provided wlth notches 20' to receive the arms 9 thus preventing rotation of the plun er 18 and its head 20 in respect to the ban 1e.

It is thought that the construction, operation, utility, and advantages of this invention will now be apparent to those skilled in this art without a more detailed description thereof. The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in'detail merely by way of example since in actual practice it has attained the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

It will be apparent that changes in the details of construction, in the sizes, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new e 1. A tool of the class described including a handle having a tubular extension term1- nating in a pair of spaced parallel arms, a

tool shank having a cylindrical head at one end, said head being formed with an annular groove-intermediate its ends and lon itudi-' nally extendin grooves forming test a tongue exten in from the extremity them 7 of, a frame 10178115118 in the annular groove, .means for pivoting the frame between the extension and formed with a head havin a groove to receive the tongue and a rate at tooth for-association with the teeth of the head of the shank.

2. A tool of the class described comprising a handle, a tool shank provided-with an annular groove and an annular series of ratchet teeth adjacent the groove, a non-circular tongue extending coaxially from one end of the shank, a frame in the groove and ro-v tatable about the shank, means for pivoting the frame to the handle, a plunger, means for slidably mounting the plun er on-the handle, one end of the plum er being provided with a non-circular soc et, and spring means urging the plunger so that said one end thereof engages the teeth when the shank andv arms, a spring pressed plunger in the'tubular is disposed at an angle to the handle, orso 7 that the socket of said one end of the plunger receives the tonguewhen the shank is in extension of the handle.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' WILLIAM D. wnnvnn 

